U.S., Canadian jets intercept 8 Russian aircraft

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Russian MiG 35 fighter jets entered a US "air defense identification zone" and were intercepted by American and Canadian warplanes near Alaska, two US defense officials said (AFP Photo/Dmitry Kostyukov)

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Authorities say two F-22 fighter jets intercepted six Russian military airplanes that neared the western coast of Alaska.

Lt. Col. Michael Jazdyk, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, says the jets intercepted the planes about 55 nautical miles from the Alaskan coast at about 7 p.m. Pacific time Wednesday.

The Russian planes were identified as two IL-78 refueling tankers, two Mig-31 fighter jets and two Bear long-range bombers.

At about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, two Canadian CF-18 fighter jets intercepted two of the long-range bombers about 40 nautical miles off the Canadian coastline.

Jazdyk says in the past five years, jets under NORAD's command have intercepted more than 50 Russian bombers approaching North American airspace.

NORAD is a binational American and Canadian command responsible for air defense in North America.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-canadian-je...232846452.html